Flashlight holder



W. E. ROBERTS FLASHLIGHT HOLDER April 19, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 26, 1953 IN V EN TOR.

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A ril 19, 1955 w. E. ROBERTS 2,706,610

FLASHLIGHT HOLDER Filed Jan. 26, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Wade 5 Roberts INVENTOR.

United States Patent FLASHLIGHT HOLDER Wade E. Roberts, Sandusky, Ohio, assignor of forty per cent to Edwin F. Roberts, Sr., Sandusky, Ohio Application January 26, 1953, Serial No. 333,060

2 Claims. (Cl. 248-168) This invention relates to supports and more particularly to a supporting structure or holder for flashlights.

An object of this invention is to provide a flashlight holder which is both simple and economical in design as well as effective in operation.

Another object of this invention is to provide a flashlight holder which includes a supporting leg assembly to which a flashlight may be pivotally attached.

Another object of this invention is to provide a flashlight holder in conformity with the above objects in which the supporting leg assembly is movable between a folded inoperative position and an extended or spread apart operative position, the assembly, when folded, presenting no incumbrance in the usual operation of the flashlight. A further object of this invention is to provide a flashlight holder which incorporates an improved supporting leg assembly which includes means for latching the assembly in spread apart operative position. I

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the holder operatively supporting a flashlight;

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of the device showing the supporting leg assembly folded into the. inoperative position, a portion of the latching plate being broken away;

Figure 3 is a transverse section taken along line 3--3 of Figure 2 and showing the relationship of parts in the inoperative or folded position;

Figure 4 is an exploded view of a portion of the holder assembly;

Figure 5 is a vertical end view of the holder as shown in Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 but showing the leg assembly prior to being spread apart to the operative position, an intermediate position of the legs being shown in dotted lines;

Figure 7 is a vertical section taken substantially along line 7-7 of Figure 5; and

Figure 8 is a vertical elevation showing in full and dotted lines several positions which the flashlight may assume.

Referring now more particularly to Figure 1, reference numeral 10 indicates generally the flashlight of conventional type which includes a body portion 12 within which the batteries are positioned, a thumb switch 14, a head 16 within which the bulb and reflector are positioned and a lens or cover glass 18. The construction shown is but one of many of the configurations which conventional flashlights may take, it being necessary for the purpose of this invention that the flashlight include a body portion of substantially cylindrical configuration.

Referring now to Figure 5, it will be seen that the body portion 12 is adapted to be received within a clamp 20 which forms a part of this invention. The clamp is preferably formed as substantially U-shaped in crosssection and is provided with outturned lip portions 22 at.

its upper end which function as guides when the flashlight is inserted within the clamp. Clamp 20 may be formed of lightweight spring steel or the like and its opposed legs are spaced closer to each other than the outer diice ameter of flashlight bodies so that when a flashlight is disposed within the clamp it will be held therein by frictional engagement of the clamp upon the flashlight body.

A bracket, indicated generally by the reference numeral 24, comprises a bight portion 26 secured in back to back relation to the bight portion of clamp 20 and includes a pair of depending spaced legs 28. As more clearly shown in Figures 3 and 4, the legs are provided with a pair of holes or apertures 30 which are disposed in horizontal alignment with each other to receive therethrough a pivot bolt 32 and which is maintained in proper position by a conventional nut 34. The bolt is provided for the purpose of carrying the hereinafter described supporting leg assembly.

With more particular reference now to Figures 3-6, the supporting leg assembly includes a first leg 36 which is flanked at either side by a second and third leg 38 and 40 respectively. Each of the legs is of rod-like configuration and has a ground engaging end 42 and a looped end 44 presenting apertures 46. The looped ends are received on the pivot bolt 32 and are positioned substantially medially between bracket legs 28, a pair of washers 48 and 50 and an intermediate spring 52 being provided adjacent each bracket leg for this purpose.

First leg 36 is provided with a latching plate indicated generally by the reference numeral 54 which is secured to the leg adjacent its looped or apertured end and which is disposed substantially perpendicular to such looped portion. The upper end 56 of the latching plate forms a partial enclosure for the pivot pin and spacer assemblies and the other end presents a neck 58 for a purpose presently to appear while the intermediate portion of the latching plate is tapered to present cam surfaces 60 and notches 62.

Assuming the legs to be folded in the position shown in Figure 2, that is, in juxtaposed relation to each other and underlying the bracket 24 so as to extend in a direction parallel to the axis of a flashlight disposed within the clamp, it will be seen that the resilient legs 64 of clip 66 will frictionally engage opposite sides of latching plate neck 58 to maintain the supporting leg assembly in the position shown. By forcing the supporting leg assembly outwardly of the resilient clip 66, the assembly may be pivoted about bolt 32 and by forcing the two legs 38 and 40 away from the first leg 36, the former will engage over the cam surfaces 60 and into the respective notches 62 to thereby form a rigid tripod assembly for supporting a flashlight. In Figure 6, the legs 38 and 40 are shown engaging over the cam surfaces 60 prior to their entrance into the notches 62.

Referring particularly to Figure 5, when the supporting legs are in the spaced apart operative position shown, the spacer springs 52 will be deformed due to the tilting relationship of the apertured ends 44 with respect to pivot bolt 32 and will therefore maintain the legs in their respective notches. It will be noted that the looped ends of the legs present apertures which are of slightly larger diameter than the pivot bolt so that the slight tilting of the legs with respect to the bolt which is necessary in order that the legs be disposed within the notches 62 will be possible.

When spread apart, the supporting leg assembly presents a pivotal support for the bracket 24 and clamp 20 which allows the flashlight to be tilted to substantially any desired position about the axis of bolts 32, as clearly shown in Figure 8. The legs 28 may be adjusted to the proper tension by bolt 32 to frictionally engage upper end 56 of the latching plate so as to maintain the.

flashlight in the desired angular position to which it is adjusted.

The device is particularly useful under such conditions as a user may be required to perform with both hands, thus necessitating a support of this kind wherein the flashlight may be supported on the ground and maintained so as to direct its beam at any desired point. As. such conditions frequently arise, it will be readily apparent that the device will find many useful applications.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of" the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, sincev numerous modifications and changes will readily occur those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the ivention to the exact construction shown and described, nd accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents my be resorted to, falling Within the scope of the apended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A flashlight holder comprising a supporting leg ,ssembly including a plurality of legs each terminating u an apertured end, a bracket having spaced opposed tpertured portions, a pivot member extending through aid bracket portions and pivotally carrying said leg ends herebetween, said legs being movable about their pivotal :onnection between a juxtaposed inoperative position and I. spread apart operative position, a clamp secured to said Jracket adapted to receive a flashlight, means on one of ;aid legs for maintaining the assembly in said operative )osition, a clip carried by said clamp for maintaining the assembly in said inoperative position, said supporting .eg assembly comprising a first leg having its apertured :nd disposed substantially centrally between said bracket portions, second and third legs having their apertured ends disposed at opposite sides of said first leg end, said means comprising a latching member secured to said first leg adjacent its apertured end and having notches disposed at opposite sides of said leg, said notches being adapted to receive said second and third legs when the assembly is disposed in spread apart operative position.

2. A flashlight holder comprising a supporting leg assembly including a plurality of legs each terminating in an apertured end, a bracket having a air of spaced parallel portions, a pivot member extending between said bracketportions and pivotally carrying said leg ends therebetween, said legs being movable about their pivotal connection between a juxtaposed inoperative position and a spaced apart operative position, means on one of said legs engaging the other legs for maintaining the same in the operative position, a clamp on said bracket adapted to receive a flashlight, and means provided on said pivot member urging said leg ends into mutual interengagement.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 569,493 Giacinto Oct. 13, 1896 1,213,270 Sarbow Jan. 23, 1917 1,252,423 Friess Ian. 8, 1918 1,658,188 Embury Feb. 7, 1928 1,686,774 Sperry Oct. 9, 1928 2,300,915 Florence Nov. 3, 1942 

